SONICWARE SmplTrek

Introduction

Thank you very much for purchasing a SONICWARE SmplTrek. This startup guide explains the basic functions of this product. We will explain how to use it, some functions and other features, while actually creating a project. See the reference manual for details.

Contents

• Names of parts

• Making sound

• Project structure

• Learning operations while creating a song

• Adding DRUM tracks

• Adding INST tracks

• Sampling a guitar on a LOOP track

• Using a SHOT track to play sound effects

• Mixing

• Saving projects

Names of parts

Top Panel

• SYNC IN/OUT jacks

  Used to synchronize with other compatible devices

• Selection buttons

  Select items shown at bottom of screen

• Mic gain knob

  Adjusts input gain of built-in mic

• VOL knob

  Adjusts headphone/ speaker level

• Input gain knobs

  Adjust gain of INPUT L and R

• Direction buttons

  Move up, down, left and right to select items

• STEP buttons

  Play scenes and specify sequence steps

• LED pads

  Play tracks and play notes as a keyboard, for example

• Func button

  Press the [Func] button with other buttons to switch to submenus

• Rec button

  Use for sample and sequence recording

• sampling button

  Open the [Sampling] Screen

• Project button

  Open the [Project] Screen

• pool button

  Open the [Pool] Screen

• Home button

  Open the [Home] Screen

• system button

  Open the [System] MENU

• Play button

  Play projects

• Stop button

  Stop playback

• Rewind button

  Move playback position backward

• Fast forward button

  Move playback position forward

• fx button

  Open the [Effects] Screen

• Mixer button

  Open the [Mixer] Screen

• Edit button

  Open track editing screens

• rec src button

  Open the [Input Setting] Screen

• Control knobs

  Adjust items A - D on screen

• VALUE knob

  Changes values on screen

• OK and CLR buttons

• Octave buttons

  Change octaves when playing LED pads

Rear Panel

• Card Slot

  Insert a card

• USB jack

  Connect USB cable

• OUTPUT jacks

  Jacks for outputting audio signals

• MIDI connectors

  Connectors for connection to external MIDI devices

• POWER switch

  Power ON/OFF

• DC 12V jack

  Connect the included AC adapter to this jack

• INPUT jacks

  Jacks for inputting audio signals

Making sound

Starting the unit

1. Insert a card (sold separately) into the card slot on the side of the unit. Compatible cards: SDHC up to 32 GB (CLASS 10 or higher) (SDXC cards are not compatible.)
2. Connect the included AC adapter to the DC12V connector on the unit. Alternatively, install 6 AA batteries.
3. Press and hold the [Power] switch until SmplTrek appears on the display.

Preparing preset data and formatting cards

Preset data, including drum kits, instrument sound sources and demo projects, are stored inside the SmplTrek. First of all, prepare a blank card and execute [Format & Duplicate] on it.

POINT!

• Duplicating files takes a few minutes.
• Be careful because this will erase all data on the card.

1. Press [Func] + [System] to open the SYSTEM MENU Screen.
2. Select [CARD], and press [OK].
3. Select [FORMAT & DUPLICATE], and press [OK].
4. Select [YES], and press [OK].
5. After FORMAT&DUPLICATE completes, demo project 1 will load.

Playing the demo project

Project name: Select with [Direction buttons]

Track type: Turn LAUNCH mode on/off

Home Screen

Scene number

Playing projects

This will play the entire project.

Performing with the LED pads

Use [LED pads] to select a DRUM/INST/SHOT track, and press [OK] or [Play] to open the Editing Screen. Press LED pads when the Editing Screen is open to play the sounds of those tracks.

Editing Screen

Playing scenes

Press the [Play] button for the desired scene to start playing it in a loop. Press it again to stop.

Playing tracks

Press the [Play] button for the desired track to start playing it in a loop. Press it again to stop.

Project structure

We will examine project structure by working with the demo project. One project corresponds to one song.

Scene

Each project has 16 scenes. Each scene makes a section, such as intro, verse A, verse B, chorus or outro.

Clip

A phrase on a specific track in a specific scene is called a clip. Even when the scene changes, the track type does not change. For example, if Track 1 is an INST track, it will always function as an INST track in every scene.

Track

Each project can have up to 10 tracks. Each track corresponds to a part in the song, such as guitar, bass or drums. The five types of tracks are LOOP, INST, SHOT, DRUM and MIDI.

GLOBAL tracks

The three GLOBAL tracks can be used to record over multiple scenes. These can be used for vocals.

Sample pool

Load samples from the sample pool to use them in LOOP, INST and SHOT tracks.

The SmplTrek has settings and functions that work on entire scenes, settings and functions that work on entire tracks, and settings and functions that work only on specific clips.

Track types

• LOOP tracks

  These are designed for sampling performances with drums, guitars and other instruments and looping them in the scene.

• SHOT tracks

  Use these to play one-shot samples, such as sound effects or crash cymbals, once. Sequence patterns can also be made using one-shot samples.

• DRUM tracks

  Use these to make drum patterns with bass drums, snares, hi-hats and other drum sounds.

• INST tracks

  Use these to play phrases in scales on the keyboard with samples of single notes from pianos, guitars and other real instruments.

• MIDI tracks

  These are piano-role type sequencer tracks for creating phrases to use with external MIDI equipment.

• GLOBAL tracks

  These are independent audio tracks that can span multiple scenes. Use these for recording vocals and other performances that continue through out the song.

Learning operations while creating a song

Creating new projects

We will create a project with 4 tracks, 1 scene and 4 bars for practice. First we will arrange preset patterns in a DRUM track. Then, we will input a bass line in an INST track. In addition, we will sample while applying effects to a guitar with a LOOP track, and play a sampled effect sound with a SHOT track.

To create a new project, select an empty project.

1. Press [Home].
2. In the PROJECT MENU, select [SELECT/NEW].
3. Turn [VALUE] to select an empty project (EMPTY). Press [OK] or [VALUE].
4. A pop-up message will appear to check whether or not to save the current project. At this point, changes have not been made to the current project, so select [NO] and press [OK].

Adding DRUM tracks

Loading preset patterns

1. Select a clip in Track 1, and press [OK].
2. Select [DRUM], and press [OK].
3. Turn [VALUE] to select a preset pattern. By pressing [VALUE] while turning it, preset patterns can be switched by genre. For this example, select the ROCK 01 pattern.
4. After selecting the preset pattern, press [OK] to load it.
5. Press [Play], and while playing the scene, turn [VALUE] to change the tempo. The tempo can also be set by tapping with a steady rhythm. After the tempo is set, press [Stop] again to stop playback.

Extending a pattern to 4 bars and adding

1. Press the [Right Arrow] twice to open the SEQ Screen.
2. Press [CLR] to duplicate the current pattern, doubling its length. Press [CLR] twice to make it 64 steps.
3. Press [Record Standby] to start recording standby.
4. Press [Func] + [Add] to open the 4th page.
5. Use the [Direction buttons] to move to the desired input position, and press [OK] to change the arrangement in the 4th bar. Notes can also be entered directly by holding down a [Pad] and pressing a Pad.
6. Press [End Step Recording] to end step recording.

POINT!

To use real-time recording, refer to the INST track procedures (→ P.11).

Adding INST tracks

Preparing an INST track

1. Press [Home] to reopen the Home Screen, select a clip in Track 2, and press [OK].
2. Select [INST], and press [OK].
3. Turn [VALUE] to select a sample. For this example, select Bass 1.wav.

Real-time recording

1. Press [Close Menu] to close the pop-up menu.
2. Press the [Octave keys] to set the piano roll to the desired input range.
3. Press [Record Standby] to start recording standby. For this example, we will record a one-bar bass line.
4. Press [Play]. Then, press the pads on the desired input timing.
5. Press [Stop Recording] to stop recording.
6. Press [End Real-time Recording] to end real-time recording.

POINT!

• To play only the selected clip, press the [Left Arrow].
• Pressing an octave key will shift the piano roll by one white key. Pressing an octave key while pressing [Func] will shift it by an octave.
• To use step recording, refer to the DRUM track procedures (→ P.9).
• If a performance is unsatisfying, the pattern can be cleared by pressing [Func] + [CLR] after stopping the recording.

Sampling a guitar on a LOOP track

Preparing a LOOP track

1. Press [Home] to reopen the Home Screen, select a clip in Track 3, and press [OK].
2. Select [LOOP], and press [OK].
3. Press the [Right Arrow] to open the SEQ Screen, and turn [A] and [B] to set the clip length. Since 64 16th notes is 4 bars, set them to LEN 64 and NOTE 1/16 for this example.

Preparing for sampling

1. Connect a guitar to the IN L jack on the rear panel.
2. Press [Func] + [Sampling] to open the SAMPLING Settings Screen. Since a guitar is connected, turn [A] to set the recording source to Hi-Z.
3. Press [Audition Mode] (lights yellow), allowing you to monitor the sound as it will be recorded. Press [Play] to play other tracks and practice your performance along with them.

Using insert effects

1. Press [Func] + [FX], select [INSERT] and press [OK].
2. Turn the knobs to set ON/OFF to ON, TYPE to ROCK AMP, TARGET to INPUT and REC POS to POST IFX.
3. Press the [Right Arrow] to open the second page, and adjust the ROCK AMP parameters while playing the guitar.
4. Press [Record Standby] (lights red). Recording will start automatically at the beginning of the next scene, so get ready to play your guitar.

Sampling

1. Press [Home] to reopen the Home Screen, select a LOOP Track and press [OK].

POINT!

• Recording will stop automatically when the set clip length is reached.
• If the performance is unsatisfying, repeat from step 2.

Using a SHOT track to play sound effects

Preparing for sampling

1. Press [Func] + [Sampling] to open the SAMPLING Settings Screen. Turn [A] to set the recording source to the built-in mic.
2. Turn the mic gain knob to adjust the gain. Set it so that when a sound effect (like hand claps) is played, the level meter goes just over -12 dB.
3. Press [VALUE] to enable AUTO REC (the automatic recording function), and turn [VALUE] to set the AUTO REC level to -12 dB.

Quick sampling

1. Press [Home] to reopen the HOME Screen.
2. Press and hold [Track 4] on to start Quick Sampling.
3. Play a sound effect (like hand claps). When the sound reaches the level set by the Auto Rec Level, recording will start automatically.
4. When the recording is done, press [OK] or [Cancel] to end sampling.

Preparing a SHOT track

1. A pop-up will appear asking you to select the track type to assign. Select [SHOT] and press [OK].
2. Turn [A] and [B] to set the range of the sample to use, and press the [Right Arrow].

Playing the effect sound

1. Press [Home] to reopen the HOME Screen.
2. Press [Play Scene] to start playing the scene.
3. Press [Track 4] on to play the sound effect. Try performing along with the other tracks.

Mixing

Adjusting levels, panning and effect send amounts

1. Press [Mixer] to open the MIXER Screen, and press [Play Scene] to start playing the scene.
2. Select a track and adjust various parameters.

Adjusting the EQ

1. Press [EQ].
2. Use [Direction buttons] to select a track, and press [OK].
3. Use [A] to select the EQ type and use [C] and [D] to adjust the parameters.
4. Press the [Left Arrow] to reopen the Mixer Screen.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for each track.

Saving projects

Be sure to save projects regularly because unsaved project changes will be deleted when the power is turned off.

1. Press [Home].
2. In the PROJECT MENU, select [SAVE].
3. Select [YES].